This is a really nice volume to showcase the work of some great cartoonists. Each has their own style, and since fairy tales are a pretty universal yeThis is a really nice volume to showcase the work of some great cartoonists. Each has their own style, and since fairy tales are a pretty universal yet plain bit of source material, each cartoonist is able to express their style easily. It makes me want to choose my favorites and seek out more of their work to see what they do with a story of their own. Another nice point about this book is that they don't limit themselves to the Brothers Grimm, although there's plenty of that. Fairy tales are represented from a variety of cultures....more

I grew up loving fairy tales, especially those by the Brothers Grimm. I had them narrated on records, and I’d sit or lay on the carpet and just listenI grew up loving fairy tales, especially those by the Brothers Grimm. I had them narrated on records, and I’d sit or lay on the carpet and just listen and let my imagination take me away. I took the stories at face value, and never questioned how odd they are, or why things happen in them the way they do. It was just how it was.

Now, as an adult, it’s wonderful to be able to get reacquainted with the stories, and to read some I’d never heard of before. In this new translation and version, Philip Pullman has selected 50 of the stories and presents them once again. He doesn’t embellish much, but tries to find the best version of each tale from the many editions the Grimm brothers published. At the end of each story, Pullman gives bibliographical references for similar stories that appear in sources like Mother Goose, Italo Calvino, and the Arabian Nights, among others. When available, Pullman also tells us where the brothers first heard the tale, and from whom. It’s a fantastic starting point for those looking for references to related sources.

As straightforward as the stories are, Pullman still gives us his own thoughts about them at the end, and choices he would make if he were to change them. For example, in his version of Rapunzel he has Rapunzel complain of her clothes being too tight, revealing to the witch that she is pregnant, rather than the alternative of Rapunzel stupidly asking the witch why she is heavier to pull up than the prince. Pullman argues that his way keeps Rapunzel completely innocent and worthy of her eventual redemption. Pullman also wrote a fantastic introduction to the volume, giving intelligent analysis of why and how fairy tales work.

This is a beautiful book of well-loved stories, and Pullman’s own writing makes it worthwhile to anyone who is interested in folklore, storytelling, and the sources of our common narrative standards....more

As you can probably tell from the book's blurb, Cinder is a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic with a mysterious past, who waAs you can probably tell from the book's blurb, Cinder is a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic with a mysterious past, who was adopted by a man who soon after died. Cinder was forced to move in with the man's shrew of a wife and two daughters, one of whom is horrible to Cinder, and the other who is like a real sister. Cinder works as the best mechanic in town, supporting her family, while trying to save money for a new cyborg foot.

This book started slowly for me. It took a little while to get acclimated to the world that Meyer has created. New Beijing has hints of today's Beijing, but is definitely a future state. Once I gained footing in the setting, the story took off. We're instantly rooting for Cinder after we see her first interaction with Prince Kai, and her mistreatment by her adoptive family. In New Beijing, cyborgs are less than people, treated like slaves, and are experimented upon by scientists searching for a cure to the mysterious disease that has been plaguing the city.

I really enjoyed seeing how the Cinderella story would unfold. We already know the original story, but it is made fresh in this retelling. My only problem with this book was the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, but I was left completely hanging. Apparently, this is because this is the first of a series, and we have to have something to continue the tale, but I kept waiting for the massive emotional payoff, and it never came. At the end, I just sat there thinking, "That's it? Really?" Some people will be excited by the prospect of another book, but I'd have rather had it wrapped up neatly.

Cinder is getting a lot of love from those who have read it, and I can see why. We all love to root for an underdog, and that combined with a fresh setting and reliable fairy tale gives the reader a really fun reading experience....more